New orchestral strings from Pirastro & Daddario

[Geoff Chalmers]

Thanks for the review Ken.

Do you know what gauge the Kaplans are? I think they offer light,medium & heavy. Do you think they would work for jazz pizz?

Thanks Geoff

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by Geoff Chalmers

Thanks for the review Ken.

Do you know what gauge the Kaplans are? I think they offer light,medium & heavy. Do you think they would work for jazz pizz?

Thanks Geoff

I tried these on Kurt Moroki's Schnitzer Ergo bass at ISB. They were pretty dark for jazz and did have some sustain, but not my cup of tea. I prefer Evah Weichs as a hybrid string as it seems they produce more highs with more sustain.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

I tried these on Kurt Moroki's Schnitzer Ergo bass at ISB. They were pretty dark for jazz and did have some sustain, but not my cup of tea. I prefer Evah Weichs as a hybrid string as it seems they produce more highs with more sustain.

I agree with you on the jazz side but they don't bow as well being a bit spongy and loose under the hairs. Like I said, you have to pick the string for your ear, bass and type of playing. The Kaplan's were developed for Orchestra as far as I can tell. Most Jazz-liked strings don't bow very well. I can play Jazz on my bass with these strings and my bass is dark as well. Dark is deep, no? It's a bass, no? Dark and deep is my goal.

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Most Jazz-liked strings don't bow very well. I can play Jazz on my bass with these strings and my bass is dark as well. Dark is deep, no? It's a bass, no? Dark and deep is my goal.

Dark and deep sounds like a desirable trait in a bass until you try and mix that in a rhythm section. I can't tell you how many extra hours I spent in the studio working on the sound of a very dark and deep old Italian bass ( Valentini?) strung with spiros no less, on 12 album tracks. As you've said , Ken, Juzeks can sound good for jazz and pop because of their more mid-range character.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

Dark and deep sounds like a desirable trait in a bass until you try and mix that in a rhythm section. I can't tell you how many extra hours I spent in the studio working on the sound of a very dark and deep old Italian bass ( Valentini?) strung with spiros no less, on 12 album tracks. As you've said , Ken, Juzeks can sound good for jazz and pop because of their more mid-range character.

Ok Eric, I played in Rhythm sections for 20 years in NYC. Also, 15 of those years was on my Old Italian bass with spiros or some other string with growl and I had no problem recording with it or playing live. The problem was finding a pick-up that would work, as the true fundamental of the notes were too thick for all the pickups on the market I had tried. I ended up inlaying the Barcus-Berry T-bar (that goes ON the bridge with a 'paste' of some sort) INSIDE the bridge on the inner curve about half way in its depth and capped it with ebony. I still have that bridge but the bass is in Finland, modified as a 5-string now and on the principal chair.

I think 'how' you record a bass is very important. If the engineer is used to a Juzek-type bass, then that set-up on the board wont work on a 300 year old Italian bass. Bring that Valenitini bass or what ever it is (never heard of that maker) and I will make it work.

[Eric Hochberg]

Ken, I know your history, and your bass isn't this bass. I'm telling you I don't care if you were playing that bass, or Ron Carter, or anyone else, and put Van Gelder or anyone else at the controls, they would have a hell of a time getting that thing to sit easily in a jazz or pop mix.

We could only use mics on it as the player refused to use a pickup (to add some needed mids) and as the producer, I couldn't insist because of special circumstances. We really did try everything to tame the darkness and ended up with a decent result. The bass sounded the way it sounded.

[Chris Kelly]

Cheers for the comparison Ken, I've just ordered a set of Kaplans. I'll report back soon.

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

I agree with you on the jazz side but they [EP weichs] don't bow as well being a bit spongy and loose under the hairs.

Snap! Couldn't agree more! I've been playing French on them and getting frustrated. My bow is going back to the luthier today to get its German frog back on. The German certainly gets a better sound out of 'spongy' strings.